A PROBLEM pub which has become a hotbed for violence and disorder has been ordered to close.

Police, Solihull Council and West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service joined together in condemning The Mountforte pub, in Overgreen Drive, Kingshurst, following a string of woundings, assaults and criminal damage.

Police also slammed the pub for maintaining a wall of silence during their investigations and, at a meeting of Solihull Council's licensing committee, slated the excessive consumption of alcohol by victims and offenders alike.

Insp David Rischmille , of Solihull police, said one of the more serious incidents at the pub happened when a man was attacked with a broken bottle, severing an artery.

Members of the committee also heard the concerns of Solihull's Local Safeguarding Children's Board about the safety of children visiting the pub with their parents.

In addition, a senior fire officer explained to the committee that they had served an enforcement notice on the premises licence holder, Ms Debra Marston, but the notice had not been complied and they were now considering taking further action.

Following the meeting, the committee took the "unusual" step of revoking the pub's licence meaning it will have to close.

Gavin Morrice, Solihull Council's public protection manager, said they felt the situation was so serious the only measure was closure.

"This is the first time we've done this in Solihull but we felt we had no other option," he said.

"There was a complete disregard of normal professional standards."

No-one was available to comment from Trust Inns Ltd, which owns the pub. The Mountforte pub has until the end of May to appeal.